Olympia Divorce and Family Law Attorneys

Serving Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and Families Throughout the South Sound

Our Olympia office sits just minutes from the Thurston County Superior Court, making in-person filings, bench-copy delivery, and courthouse-required appearances efficient and predictable. 

We also regularly represent clients in:

• Mason County (Shelton and surrounding communities)
• Lewis County (Centralia, Chehalis, and surrounding areas)
• Kitsap County (Port Orchard, Bremerton, Silverdale, Poulsbo — by hardship-approved remote or in-person as required)

Families throughout the South Sound rely on Olympia as a steady point of connection. People live, work, shop, learn, and raise children across Thurston, Mason, Lewis, and Kitsap counties. And when family challenges arise, they look for guidance they can trust. Our Olympia office serves as a dependable resource for all of these communities. Wherever you call home, we help you protect what matters most: your children, your financial stability, and the future you are working to build.

Understanding the Courts That Will Shape Your Case

Family law is local. Every county in the South Sound handles hearings, filings, and procedural steps differently. A successful strategy requires knowing — and preparing for — those differences.

Below is a plain-language overview of what families can expect. You do not need to memorize any of this. We manage the details so you can focus on your life.

Thurston County

Thurston uses a hybrid model. Many hearings allow remote participation, but some require advance permission through a motion filed with the assigned judge. Even when a hearing is remote, bench copies and proposed orders must still be delivered. Parenting seminars must be completed early in the process, and strict schedules apply to mediation and trial readiness.

Preparation keeps families ahead of deadlines and reduces surprises.

Mason County

Most civil and domestic hearings may be attended in person or virtually, but paper bench copies are required for every motion, which means physical delivery to the courthouse. Protection order hearings are held in person unless the court approves remote participation. Jury and bench trials are always in person.

When you work with us, we handle the court procedures and logistics so nothing is missed.

Lewis County

Lewis offers a mix of in-person and remote calendars. Many finalization hearings allow paperwork in lieu of appearance, but contempt matters require personal appearance unless the court approves otherwise. Digital bench copies are permitted, and virtual appearances must follow strict courtroom-decorum standards.

Knowing which hearings require presence (and which do not) keeps your case efficient and cost-effective.

Kitsap County

Kitsap has the strictest requirements in the region.

Most family law hearings must be attended in person, including parentage, paternity, support modification, domestic-relations motions, and contempt. Remote appearances are allowed only for medical or mobility hardships, and only after timely submitting a formal request for court approval. Settlement conferences remain remote by default.

Success in Kitsap comes down to one theme: preparation wins.

➡ If your case involves multiple counties or jurisdictional questions, your attorney will explain how each court’s rules apply and what to expect.

Family Law, Divorce, and Probate Services in the South Sound

Families across Thurston, Mason, Lewis, and Kitsap Counties face unique pressures — demanding work schedules, long-term public service, military commitments, multigenerational homes, and the responsibility of caring for both children and aging parents. Whether you are rebuilding after a separation, protecting your children, dividing assets, or handling a loved one’s estate, our Olympia attorneys prepare every case with the care, clarity, and strategy your future deserves.

Divorce in the South Sound: Clear Strategy for Your Future

A divorce is not just a legal process — it is a restructuring of your life. You need clarity, stability, and guidance from attorneys who prepare cases the right way.

Our Olympia divorce team helps with:

• Spouses who have merged finances over years or decades
• Families where one spouse has been the primary earner and the other the primary caregiver
• PERS, SERS, TRS, LEOFF, and other public-sector retirement division
• Shifting or unpredictable work schedules (healthcare, corrections, fire, law enforcement, shift workers)
• Marriages involving rural property, family land, or multigenerational assets
• Cases where emotions run high and structure is urgently needed

➡ For more information, see our page Divorce in Washington State

Preparation is the foundation. Strategy is the method. Stability is the outcome.

Protecting Your Children: Parenting Plans, Custody, and Father’s Rights

Few issues matter more than protecting your relationship with your children.

We help clients create parenting plans that:

• Support the child’s stability
• Respect work schedules and distance between households
• Address military service or public-sector shift cycles
• Provide structure when communication has broken down
• Protect safety when there are concerns about substance abuse or conflict
  

Many fathers come to us worried they will be marginalized. Many mothers come to us afraid their children may be pulled into conflict. We protect both parental rights and the child’s wellbeing.

➡ Learn more on our page Child Custody and Father’s Rights in Washington State

Serving Military & Public-Service Families in the South Sound

Families connected to JBLM, state agencies, law enforcement, corrections, healthcare, and other public-service roles often face challenges that require careful planning during divorce and custody matters. Military relocations, shift work, deployments, pension division, and unpredictable schedules all affect parenting plans and financial arrangements.

Our Olympia attorneys help military and public-sector families by:

• Structuring parenting plans around shift cycles, deployments, and long-distance transitions
• Preparing relocation and out-of-state parenting proposals
• Dividing military and state pensions (PERS, SERS, TRS, LEOFF) correctly and strategically
• Addressing benefits, allowances, and variable income
• Building custody strategies that support stability for children during demanding work cycles
  

➡ Learn more on our page Military Divorce for Washington Families

Preparation matters. Knowing how these systems work — and how the South Sound courts treat them — can make a decisive difference.

Unmarried Couples and Long-Term Relationships (CIR / Joint Property Issues)

Many couples in the South Sound build lives together without marrying. When these relationships end, courts look at:

• Shared finances
• Joint investment in property
• Length and nature of the relationship
• Stability and intent
  

We help clients protect their interests and navigate property division in these situations.

➡ Learn more on our page Unmarried Couples: Committed Intimate Relationships (CIRs)

Wills and Trusts for Your Family’s Future

Estate planning is one of the most important ways to protect your family, your property, and your peace of mind. Many South Sound families — especially those working in public service or with multigenerational ties to the region — want to ensure their loved ones are cared for no matter what the future holds.

Our Olympia attorneys help clients with:

• Wills
• Powers of attorney
• Healthcare directives
• Planning for minor children
• Coordinating beneficiary designations
• Preparing for long-term care needs
  

Estate planning is not only for later in life. It is a way to create stability today and provide clear direction for tomorrow.

➡ Learn more at our page Estate Planning in Washington State

Probate that Protects Family Legacy

Loss is one of the hardest transitions a family faces. When a loved one passes, legal requirements can feel overwhelming. Our Olympia team handles probate matters with care, clarity, and efficiency so families can focus on healing.

We assist with:

• Probate administration
• Will challenges
• Removal of personal representatives
• Family disputes over assets
• Planning for your own future through wills and related documents
  

➡ Learn more on our page Probate In Washington State

Meet Your Olympia Legal Team

Our Olympia attorneys represent families across the South Sound in divorce, custody, estate planning, and probate matters, with a focus on preparation and clear communication. We practice regularly in Thurston, Mason, Lewis, and Kitsap Counties and understand how local court procedures affect real outcomes. Clients work with attorneys who explain the process, anticipate challenges, and guide cases with steady leadership.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to go to court in person for my Olympia case?

It depends on the county.

• Thurston: hybrid, some remote allowed
• Mason: many hearings remote, but bench copies must be delivered in person
• Lewis: mixed, contempt requires in-person
• Kitsap: mostly in-person unless hardship is approved

Your attorney will tell you exactly what format applies to each hearing and will prepare you so you feel confident.

Do you meet with clients in person?

Yes. Our Olympia office has a private meeting room for confidential conversations. We also meet by Zoom or phone for clients who prefer virtual appointments or who would rather not drive into Olympia.

What counties do you serve from the Olympia office?

We regularly handle cases in Thurston, Mason, Lewis, and Kitsap Counties.

Does the Olympia office handle probate?

Yes. Our team assists with probate administration and related disputes, providing guidance and support during difficult transitions.

When Everything Is at Stake, Preparation Changes Everything

Families rarely see crisis coming, but they can plan their way through it with the right support. Whether you are working to protect your children, secure your financial future, or move through one of the most difficult chapters of your life, preparation brings clarity at a time when everything feels uncertain.

You deserve a clear plan and a legal team that provides steady leadership. You also deserve guidance from attorneys who understand how South Sound families live, work, and raise their children, and who take the time to prepare your case the right way from the beginning.

Your future matters, and the choices you make today will shape what happens next. If you are ready to take the next step, we are here to help you move forward with strength, clarity, and confidence.

Pacific Northwest Family Law – Olympia Office
2401 Bristol Ct SW, Ste B-104
Olympia, WA 98502
Phone: (253) 381-2951